Important!Note: This takes place in the movie, just after Pitch takes the fairy's. (Around 30mins in.)
The Naughty List
Chapter One: Meet The New Recruit
"There better be a good reason for calling me all the way out here, North," are the words she decides to begin with as she slams the large—and admittedly impressive looking—doors open to reveal what the Guardian of Wonder calls home. "You know how much I hate this place."
Her entrance has the desired effect; all eyes turn to her, Guardians, Yetis and Elves alike, and she takes a moment to soak up the attention before strutting over to the man often referred to as Santa Claus.
"Ah, Halloween, dear!" North greets merrily. "As always your speed of travel is impressive. You must teach my reindeer's the same skill one day, yes?"
That gets a snicker out of the Easter Bunny, whether it was at the mental image of her teaching reindeer's or at the suggestion that she might be faster than him, she didn't care to find out. Sending him a brief glare she turns back to North. "Well? Our deal has always been that the most we have to converse is once a year—
"And ain't that a bleeding blessing."
"Exactly." Halloween nods, smirking when Bunnymund falls silent at her agreement. "And yet here I am, summoned months before my designated holiday. What gives?"
"I would not have called unless it was urgent," The larger man replies and she feels her bravado wear off at how... defeated he sounds. Since when was North anything over than full of joy?
Halloween checks her surroundings for the first time and can instantly feel that something is very, very wrong with the North Pole. The Yetis, usually so busy at work creating the next new toy were now standing around, shoulders hunched in on themselves as if they had no more purpose. Even the pesky elves that she usually had to threaten or curse at to leave her feet alone now kept their distance, choosing instead to hide under tables or even in half-open presents.
Just what was going on? She whips around to where the rest of the Guardian's stand, ready to demand an explanation, but the words never leave her lips because that's precisely the moment she spots it.
"..what..?"
The Guardian's globe, usually so vibrant and alive with the glow of the children's dreams and beliefs across the world, had been reduced to nothing more than a few specks of gold—barely a shadow of its former glory. Even to Halloween—who favours the darker shades of life—the globe just looked...wrong.
North sighs, the sound weary and loud compared to the silence of the building. "That is why we have called you here."
And for what feels like the first time in a very long while, Halloween is speechless.
Jack had to admit the idea of bringing in another Guardian, or 'another young reckless spirit' as Bunnymund had been quick to remind him, was appealing. After meeting Pitch himself at the Fairy Palace and seeing just what lengths this jerk was willing to go to, any help they could get would be valuable and so he was quick to agree when North suggested bringing in someone else, even when the other Guardians fell silent at the proposal.
He really didn't expect that this help was going to come in the form of a young female who called herself Halloween, the spirit in charge of..well, Halloween he presumed. Her striking red hair and matching eyes called attention to her well enough, but with the added black clothing and the lengthy silk cloak that shadowed her movements like ink, she was unmissable. So if Jack had stared for a bit too long to be polite (and judging from the heart shape Sandy had morphed accompanied with a knowing smile he probably had been) you couldn't really blame him.
Thankfully the girl had been too distracted to notice the Sandman's tricks or even Jack's existence, which was a little irritating. Huh, it seemed that even after three hundred long years he still wasn't used to being ignored.
"Pitch did what?" Halloween shouts in disbelief, calling Jack's attention back to the situation at hand.
"It's all true," Tooth speaks up for the first time since Halloween's arrival. "He stormed my palace in what felt like only seconds. My fairy's...their all..." She makes a pained noise and turns away, water gathering in her eyes and North quickly moves to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I understand," Halloween says, fearing any more explanation will upset the Tooth Fairy further. "I'm shocked at Pitch's actions, in all our past transactions—"
Bunny snorts, his ears twitching restlessly. "Tch. If you can call it that."
Halloween raises a thin eyebrow. "Problem, rabbit?" Ignoring Sandys light tugs on her arm in what was his attempt to calm her, she continues, "Pitch Black can create fear with a snap of his fingers and last time I checked a healthy dose of fear is essential for a successful Halloween. Once a year he uses his powers to help me, in fact I'd probably say it's because I've given the Boogeyman purpose that he hasn't done this sooner!"
"Oh now that is a whole can of rubbish! I bet my two good ears you and Nightmare King have planned this all—"
"Wait, you've worked with that guy?"
Halloween glances at the new voice, their tone not accusing but curious, and double takes at what she sees. A boy, appearance wise around her age, was floating in mid-air and using what looked like a wooden stick as his chair. At her bewildered stare he smiles smugly, revealing perfect white teeth, and gives her a small wave. She watches in wonder as the motion leaves a trail of cold air behind.
"...how long have you been there?" She asks and hates how silly it makes her feel when the snow haired stranger laughs at her.
"Ohhh, not long..." He rubs his chin thoughtfully before shrugging. "I'd say pretty much the whole time, give or take."
Her eyes widened at the news; either he was skilled at hiding his presence or she really needed to up her game and be more alert.
"You were being so silent, mate, I was beginning to forget you were there myself." Bunny admits, before remarking, "Now that would have been a miracle!"
"Oh, is the kangaroo talking to me?" The teenager raises a hand to his ear and mocks, "I'm afraid I can't hear you down there, you'll have to speak up!"
With a shake of her head she leaves the two to their glaring contest, ignoring the satisfaction she feels when Bunnymund turns away first. She looks to North for the answer. "A new Guardian?"
"Yes! His name is Jack Frost!"
"Heck no!"
"I'm not a Guardian—"
"You should see his teeth up close, they're beautiful!"
She blinks at the combined outburst. Sandy raises his hands in a, 'this is why I don't bother speaking' gesture.
"Okay..?" Halloween glances back and forth between them, not bothering to hide her amusement at how strange they appeared as a group. Well, if you added herself to the equation it was going to get a lot weirder.
"So, Halloween?" Tooth flies into her personal space, violet eyes big and expecting. "Will you help us? No doubt Pitch is planning his next attack already. We have no time to waste."
Halloween shifts her gaze away from Tooth's, and a quick glance at the others shows a range of different attitudes towards her; from Bunnymund's crossed arms, eyes clearly full of distrust, to North's and Sandy's anticipating looks. It surprises her that the boy's—Jack Frost's—piercing blue stare is what unnerves her the most out of all the reactions.
Halloween collects herself, and with a deep breath she says, "No. I won't."
Before Halloween can witness their reaction she moves toward the doors, glaring at any Yeti or Elf that dares to stop her. She ignores the 'I told you so' whisper that reaches her ears and grabs the door, staring in shock when the blasted thing doesn't open. Assuming one of them has stopped the door from opening somehow, she looks back only to find the Guardian's in the same place. All except one.
Sandy quickly creates an arrow pointing behind her and judging from the chill emitting behind her, she has a fair idea of what Sandy is pointing at. Halloween slowly turns around, despite all her senses telling her to move away, and if she thought Jack's stare was unnerving before it had nothing on the icy glare she was receiving now.
"How can you just leave?" He demands, closing what little space was left between them. "After North told you that the children are in danger, after you've heard about the damage Pitch has already caused!"
"Because I'm not a Guardian!" Halloween snaps back, shocking herself at her outburst. She can hear Tooth's intake of breath and realises this is probably the first time the Guardian's have seen her display such emotion in all the years they have known each other. Well, might as well go all the way then.
"Neither am I," Jack replies, unyielding. "But that doesn't mean anything! Guardian or no Guardian, I'm still there for the kids."
Halloween bites down on her lip in anger, wondering why she doesn't just push the boy out the way and force her way to safety.
"It means everything," she explains, willing him to see, "You have the choice to be a Guardian, to be believed in, to have something to live for! It took me years of work to finally be visible, but Pitch? He was doomed the moment The Man in the Moon moved on from him. And now you want me to hunt him down because he simply wants to be seen?"
She expects a sharp reply off the frost spirit, but instead he falls silent and though Jack's eyes remain on her she can tell he's seeing something different entirely. Halloween almost feels guilt at the lost expression he's wearing (is this really the same boy who was smirking confidently down at her just moments before?) but she shrugs it off and takes the opportunity to escape.
Halloween didn't notice it before, but the doors were coated in a thin sheet of floral shaped ice, clearly Jack's doing. With a quick touch of her hand the ice melts and she fades into the blizzard outside, not once looking back.
He simply wants to be seen.
Halloween's words sure hit a sore spot for Jack, not that she would have known that of course, but still he let himself be affected and let her go! Idiot! He can't help but feel a spark of respect for the girl though, even if she was letting her pity cloud her judgement of Pitch Black. After all, couldn't he have easily been in Pitch's position if the silence had finally got to him, the loneliness consuming all his rational thoughts? No, don't think like that, Jack. You're nothing like him.
He's not sure how long he stands there before Baby-Tooth comes over, hovering worriedly in front of him in a desperate attempt to get his attention. Jack puts a reassuring smile on. "So, that could have gone better, huh?"
"Good riddance I say," Bunny pipes up, having already moved onto other things—like painting one of the eggs he has on hand. "We got enough problems dealing with Frostbite here. We don't need another newbie messin' things up just before Easter."
Apart from shooting a gust of cold air in Bunny's direction, (causing said bunny to lose his grip on his precious egg) Jack lets that go, his mind too preoccupied with what just transpired to feel any real anger.
"I thought for sure she would assist us," Tooth says, dejected. "Perhaps I was too forceful?"
"Nonsense!" North is quick to assure. "You know Halloween, give her time, she'll be back."
Faking nonchalance, Jack leans back on his staff and asks, "So...who was she exactly?"
Tooth smiles at him affectionately, clearly seeing through his disinterest and he looks away uncomfortably; was he really that see through?
North laughs. "When I said you hold record on naughty list? Ehh, I lied." At Jack's questioning stare North beckons him to come closer, and whispers, "Halloween holds top place."
"Wow." Jack whistles. "Now that is my kind of woman," and before anyone can protest he's flying out the still opened doors, whisking through the blizzard with ease, as if it was a perfectly clear day.
"Oh bloody hell," Bunnymund mutters, already resigning himself to the worst Easter he will ever have.
Sandy offers him a makeshift carrot of sand as his condolences.
Author!Note:
Well...I hope you enjoyed reading this as much I enjoyed writing it. Review?
(And wow, wasn't this film amazing? I'm really hoping for a sequel. The animation was beautiful and all the characters were lovable!)